On Saturday May 3, 2014, Greenbelt staff and partners from TRCA, Humber Watershed Alliance, and the Weston Historical Society led a Jane’s Walk along the Humber River. Despite the dreary weather (or fitting depending on how you look at it; the topic was about the history of flooding and the future of planning in urban river valleys in a changing climate), more than 30 keen souls showed up for the walk. 

Fry time is upon us.

If there is ever a time to indulge in some crispy, golden fries, now is the time. The remaining potatoes from last season’s harvest are now Ontario’s finest frying potatoes. After a fall harvest, potatoes are kept in cool, dark environments. This extends their life and slows down the reaction that breaks down potato starch into sugar. After a long winter, the potatoes are reaching the end of their edible stage and have the highest sugar content of the season. When these potatoes are “punched” (through a fry press) into spears, then plunged into 350F vegetable oil, those sugars go to work. They caramelize and give the fluffy interior of the fry a golden shell, almost alike to the top of a creme brulée. 

Becky poses with her two sons.

On March 6, 2012 I arrived in Canada with my two boys, who were 10 and 5 years old at the time, from Botswana (which is located in the southern part of Africa). In September 2012, I started taking ESL to keep myself busy when my boys were at school, and, only a few months later, in January 2013, I started the six-month Job Preparation for International Trained Accountant and Bookkeepers program with Skills for Change, an employment services development and training organization. I finished my classes in May 2013 and was soon given a placement with the Friends of the Greenbelt Foundation for five weeks as an Account Assistant.

Conservation Authorities are an unusual creation. In 1954, Hurricane Hazel wrecked unexpected havoc in Ontario­, washing out streets, bridges, homes, and trailers. Conservation Authorities, legislated in 1946, quickly rose in importance shortly after to avoid similar damage.

While each Authority is localized to the needs of its watershed, they all do excellent work around flood control, water quality, wetlands preservation, and fish and wildlife habitat. 

GREENBELT HARVEST PICNIC EARLY BIRD TICKETS
ON SALE THIS SATURDAY 

Featuring
Ray LaMontagne, Daniel Lanois,
Bruce Cockburn, Boris Brott,
Gord Downie, The Sadies, And The Conquering Sun
Los Lobos, Sarah Harmer, Ron Sexsmith, & more!!

Saturday August 23, 2014
Gates at 11AM - Show at 12PM
Christie Lake Conservation Area
1002 Highway #5 West
Dundas, Ontario

April 2014 Newsletter

Positive vibes, trout, beer, and cycling. What else do you need?

This month's newsletter features:

• Majority of Ontarians Want to See the Greenbelt Grow
• Toast to Protect the Greenbelt
• Trout in the Humber
• Test Ride the Greenbelt Route
• From Disaster to Resilience: Jane's Walk 2014
• And more... !

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 30, 2014

MAJORITY OF ONTARIANS WANT TO SEE GREENBELT GROW

Environics Poll Shows Continued Support for Greenbelt

After nine years, support for Ontario's Greenbelt remains strong. Ontarians want to see more land included in the land protection policy according to a recent poll conducted by Environics Research Group.

 Ontario Greenbelt Polling 2013 – 2.2 MB

After nine years, support for Ontario's Greenbelt remains strong. Ontarians want to see more land included in the land protection policy according to a recent poll conducted by Environics Research Group.

Rainbow trout are alive and well in Toronto's Humber River.

Imagine my surprise on moving to Toronto to find that the city not only contains a giant ravine system—our equivalent to the canals of Venice— but that the rivers running through it also contain fish; quite a lot of them.

Each spring steelhead—otherwise known as rainbow trout—migrate up the Humber River to spawn, and can be seen jumping dams at various points through the city. Chinook and coho salmon make the run in the fall. Although all three species were introduced from the Pacific, they have established wild, self-sustaining populations in the Great Lakes.

A page on American Warblers from the well-known bird field guide, Sibleys.

A field guide is a well-known tool, a book, used to help identify things in the environment that may appear similar, but in actuality are quite diverse.